SIMGOT EA500LM: Simply Defines Its Tuning Primacy
The SIMGOT revolution is still going strong as ever as it still garners more support and accolades from the audio community around the globe. Like almost all their sets are well-regarded and highly acclaimed since the release of the EA500 that truly changes the paradigm shift on the current state of the audio market.
And then, with the phenomenal success of the EA500, SIMGOT is quite firm on releasing a more refined version of this set and improving some of its features that truly differentiate it from its original version while retaining its main features that truly defines this model. Let's find out if there are some noticeable changes between the previous model and its newer reiteration which will be the featured product on this review article.
This is SIMGOT EA500LM and like its predecessor, it still has a single driver configuration which has a dynamic driver with some new composite materials that were implemented in it. The dynamic driver that was implemented here is an array of dual magnet and dual cavity in a 10mm ring structure with lithium-magnesium diaphragm with an application of their own DMDC technology (The initial “LM” means lithium-magnesium in which the set revolves around regarding its tech). Lithium-magnesium are known to be light yet strong material with one of the lowest densities in its class, and this material will be more favourable in terms of firmness and rigidity as it will be more ductile and responsive while properly controlling the vibrations to lessen any instances of distortion to deliver a deep and punchy low frequency and at the same time, a better clarity and crisper midrange and high frequencies.
Like the original EA500, this revamp one still retains its solid CNC-milled aluminium alloy structure as its shell chassis that encases its high performance dynamic driver. The shells were buffed to achieve that mirror-finished surface to give a sense of sophistication and elegance to its metal work while retaining its build quality. The EA500LM is preserving its precedent model's main core feature which is its tuning versatility as it has a detachable tuning nozzle system and SIMGOT added another one which makes this set offers three distinctive types of tuning unlike the previous one that only offers two sets of tuning nozzles. On its interchangeable connectivity with its cable, like the EA500, it still uses a proven and stable 0.78mm bi-pin connector which makes it easier to conduct cable swaps.
As for fitting and comfort, EA500LM offers a snug and pleasant placement into my lugholes while it offers a good sealing as it isolates well from external noises sources from the outside. I can actually wear it for long listening sessions and I really enjoy using it on my listening to some album discography of my favourite artists.
EA500LM stock cable is a two-core with a mixture of gold and black high-purity silver plated OFC wires that were insulated with PVC coating and it offers a better audio signal transmission. The cable seems to be decent and somehow flexible and supple and on its end, it has a gold-plated 3.5mm single end on its termination plug.
As for its product packaging, SIMGOT EA500LM is excellent in this regard on how it was presented and organised its contents inside of its packaging box.
These are the following contents and its accessories inside:
- Pair of SIMGOT EA500LM IEM transducers.
- Stock cable
- Three (3) pairs of balanced bore silicone eartips in different standard sizes.
- Storage case
- Pair of red ring silver tuning nozzles
- Pair of black ring silver tuning nozzles
- Paperwork like user's manual and Q.C. stub.
SIMGOT sets are known for its easy to drive aspect as it scales well to all types of sources with its high sensitivity, low impedance rating on how it responds with power amplification, and EA500LM still retains this facet that I can use on my smartphones and DAPs. This set sounds very dynamic and full sounding as it encompasses across its frequency spectrum to signify its amplitude scale.
Due to its detachable nozzle features , EA500LM offers three types of sound profiles that affect its tonal aspect and each of its detachable nozzles has its own target tuning curve. But, despite it offering three types of tuning, they are still veering towards a Harman-esque type of tuning which is a modified U-shaped sound profile.
(Credits to [USER=516219]@baskingshark[/USER] for providing a graph on this one)
Red Ring Brass Tuning Nozzles - probably the most “balanced” sounding among the three, it has more rounded lows, less recessed midrange and just slightly elevated upper mids up to the presence treble.
Red Ring Silver Tuning Nozzles - this tuning is closer to a typical Harman target, retains most of the bass quantity and quality from Red Ring Brass Tuning Nozzles but due to more emphasised on upper mids up to the brilliance treble region, it gives more energetic and crisper sound that somewhat lessens the bass quantity of the Brass Nozzles mode.
Black Ring Silver Tuning Nozzles - the brightest and the most resolving among the three types of tuning nozzles albeit its perceived dynamics are somewhat a tad leaner as upper mids and presence treble seems more prominent on its overall frequency range.
LOWS/BASS:
Red Ring Brass Tuning Nozzles
It presents a well-balanced bass quality and quantity as it has sub bass presence and a fairly textured mid bass element. This setting gives a punchier, full-bodied with a relative authority on its bass response.
Sub bass reverberation is audibly felt from sub-bass focus instruments like octobasses, drum machines, synthesisers and low-tuned bass guitars. A fairly textured mid bass gives an ample note weight on bass clef instruments like bass guitars, double bass, bass trumpets and bass kick drums. And also, it gives richer and fuller male vocals like bass and bass-baritones.
Instruments:
Bass guitars - it sounds weighty, sombre and resonant.
Double basses - a bit heavier, earthy and sounds more broader than bass guitars.
Bass trumpets - fuller with dark timbre.
Bass kick drums - produces a thudding and gloomy sound.
Vocals(male):
Basses - it has a dark, deep resonant with ample rumble on its voices
Bass-baritones - it also a deep and dark sound on their albeit noticeable less voluminous compare to bass vocals.
Red Ring Silver Tuning Nozzles
While it appears that it still has some bass quality on it although it has a noticeable a tad less mid bass texturing while it gives some pronounced sub bass presence as it delivers a more deep and rumbling sub bass with an incisive yet less punchy bass response.
Sub bass will be perceived more clearer as we felt more reverberation and resonance that were generated from these sub bass-centric instruments. Mid-bass texture seems to lessen a bit of its note density compared to the Brass Tuning Nozzle's tuning that it will somehow affect the tonality and tonal colour of some instruments and even male vocals.
Instruments:
Bass guitars - a tad less hefty, more mellow and rasping.
Double basses - similar to bass guitars sound characteristics but retains its sonorous sound.
Bass trumpets - less fuller and less richer overtones.
Bass kick drums - retains its resonance but sounds more precise and tighter but compared to Brass Tuning Nozzle settings, it sounds tad softer and less menacing.
Vocals(male):
Basses - it has a less darker tone but retains its deep resonant rumbling on its voice tail.
Bass-baritones - Still has a deep but again less voluminous that it will give less warmth, less darker and in lacking of fuller tone.
Black Ring Silver Tuning Nozzles
it has leaner and less denser mid bass as it has more bass shelf across the mid bass towards the lower midrange. It gives that cleaner and a tad tighter bass response at the expense of a textured and more natural sound bass clef instruments.
Like the Red Ring Silver Tuning Nozzle setting, it has more resonating and reverberating sub bass presence but here are the tonal and timbre sound quality from the instruments and vocals.
Instruments:
Bass guitars - a tad less hefty, more mellow and rasping.
Double basses - similar to bass guitars sound characteristics but retains its sonorous sound.
Bass trumpets - less fuller and less richer overtones.
Bass kick drums - retains its resonant but sounds more precise and tighter but compared to the Brass Tuning Nozzle settings, it sounds tad softer and less menacing.
Vocals(male):
Quite similar with Red Ring Silver Nozzles sound character albeit a noticeably a tad leaner.
MIDRANGE:
Red Ring Brass Tuning Nozzles
This setting gives a rather mild U-shaped as it has less notch midrange on its overall frequency range. It has a tad warmer with sufficient texture on its midrange section that affects the tonal quality on both vocals and instruments, retaining a well-balanced with sufficient details.
Vocal Types:
Male Vocals
Baritones - It has smooth, warm and rich vocals on this set, quite versatile on to give more power and authority on low octave ones like Kavalierbariton, Verdi, dramatic and noble baritones. On higher octave ones like light baritones and lyric baritones have milder and sweeter tones.
Tenor - Quite an all-rounder for all tenor types, leggero and lyric tenor have light, graceful and dazzling sound while spinto, dramatic and heldentenors have richer , powerful and emotive sound to give that brassy and ringing tone.
Countertenor - Mild, tender and passionate vocals with a tad of warmth not to sound too transparent.
Female Vocals
Contraltos - Rich, luscious and sufficiently to give that distinctive deep, well-modulated chesty husky vocals. Sounds exactly on how contralto singers should sound like in live performances.
Mezzo-sopranos - Smooth, lush and velvety sounding that gives a captivating and insouciant voice.
Sopranos - Excellent on lower notation sopranos like spinto and dramatic types as they sound rich, emotive and slightly darker tonal colour. Lyric, soubrette and coloratura types sound great as they sound gleaming but less energetic and less open sounding.
Instruments:
Strings
Guitars - Balanced and warm sounding on both acoustic and electric guitars with a good amount of sonic blooms on every pluck of its strings.
Violins - It sounds quite solemn, lustrous and sensuous on every stroking on its bow strings.
Cellos - Full, silky and sweet sounding, this instrument is known for its versatility in terms of tonal variety across its overall register.
Woodwinds
Piccolos - Graceful, sweet and delicate sounding.
Concert Flutes - Sounds relatively mellow, rich and silvery.
Clarinets - They have a lustrous, dramatic and warm sound on them.
Saxophones - similar to clarinets but they sound more round, sonorous and earthy.
Brasses
Trumpets - Full, magnificent and vivid sounding.
Trombones - They have this powerful and metallic sounding.
Horns - It has a warm, full and velvety sound on them.
Tubas - Ponderous, broad and robust sound that gives this instrument's non-transposing nature.
Percussions
Tom-toms - Warm and resonant sound with that hardness in every stroke.
Snare drums - Hard, precise with some tad shuffling sound on them.
Tenor drums - Venerable and full sounding
Kettledrums - It has a mellow, deep and velvety sound.
Pianos - Well-balanced tone as it has a warm and some bell-like and vivid sound.
Red Ring Silver Tuning Nozzles
Noticeably, it presents a tad more recessed and a bit leaner on its midrange presentation. Its sound is clearer, transparent and a bit more energetic compared to brass nozzles at the expense of less warmth. This type of tuning will be more advantageous on female vocals and some instruments, mainly strings and woodwinds.
Vocal Types:
Male Vocals
Baritones - Due to less warmth sound compared to the Brass Tuning Nozzles settings, it gives some less richness and plush on these vocal types but sounds good on both light and lyric baritones.
Tenors - Somehow it gives a brighter and dazzling sound on leggero and lyric tenors.
Countertenors - Still has a tender and emotive sound but it has a bolder and added vividness.
Female Vocals
Contraltos - Definitely less richer and lacking a bit of heft that affects the smokiness, depth and power of distinctive chesty vocals.
Mezzo-sopranos - Fiery with some semblance of smooth and velvety vocal characteristics.
Sopranos - The setting of these tuning nozzles will give more prominent sound on lyric and coloratura types of this particular voice type as it has projects more agile, energetic and spacious sound that these types of sopranos should sound like.
Instruments:
Strings
Guitars - More brighter and crisp sound on its string notations as it is more prevalent on acoustics-type ones.
Violins - Sounds more vibrant, lively and clear on every stroking on its bow strings.
Cellos - With the tonal versatility of these instruments, it sounds clear, vibrant and brilliant.
Woodwinds
Piccolos - Intense, bright and clear sounding.
Concert Flutes - It has an airy, brilliant and rich sound.
Clarinets - They have a bright and expressive sound on them.
Saxophones - it has a bright to the point being incisive, it also has brilliance and reedy sound on them.
Brasses
Trumpets - Vibrant, brilliant and vivid sounding.
Trombones - Intense powerful and metallic sounding as I describe it.
Horns - They have a less warm, sustaining and sonorous sound
Tubas - Hearty and resonant sounding.
Percussions
Tom-toms - it has less warmth and resonant sound with that bright in every stroke.
Snare drums - Bright, precise and a tad sharp sounding.
Tenor drums - Perhaps they sound hard, sharp and menacing.
Kettledrums - Dry and resonant sounding.
Pianos - it seems to diverge more on the brighter tone as they have a crisp and vivid sound.
Black Ring Silver Tuning Nozzles:
It appears that it has similar midrange presentation with the Red Ring Silver Tuning Nozzles albeit this one has even brighter and offers more bite. This tuning might be too sensitive to some listeners as it offers more energetic and instances of possible shrill sound on female vocals and too much boost on strings, brass and woodwinds.
Vocal Types:
Male vocals
Baritones - While its voice appears to sound smooth but it is noticeable even more leaner that we will probably look for texture and depth of its note.
Tenors - Similar to the Red Ring Tuning Nozzle sound quality albeit it is more apparent to sound even more bright and tinny.
Countertenors - tender, expressive yet it sounds even more intense and vivid.
Female vocals
Contraltos - It sounds even less natural as it sounds too lean and inadequate lushness to give that husky and smoky voice.
Mezzo-sopranos - Almost the same sound characteristics with countertenors in this particular tuning nozzle setting.
Sopranos - Shimmering and brilliant sounding to project the openness and energetic nature of both lyric and coloratura-type of sopranos although it might sound a bit too intense that it will sound more shrilly and metallic.
Instruments:
Strings
Guitars - Crisp, bright and a tad dry sounding on every pluck on its notation strings.
Violins - Sounds more vibrant, lively and clear on every stroking on its bow strings.
Cellos - Full, silky and sweet sounding, this instrument is known for its versatility in terms of tonal variety across its overall register.
Woodwinds
Piccolos - intense, bright sounding but occasionally it has some screeching sound.
Concert flutes - Brilliant, clear and a tad shrill sounding.
Clarinets - Incisive and penetrating sound.
Saxophones - Reedy, incisive and it has this kind of “narrowing” sound.
Brasses
Trumpets - Shrill, bright and penetrating sound
Trombones - They have these metallic sound characters to the point of being overpowering and intensive.
Horns - Metallic, brilliant and exceedingly intense.
Tubas - Powerful and resonant sound, has that sharp metallic sound that these particular instruments should sound have a smooth and round sound.
Percussions
Tom-toms - Noticeable less warm sounding and a sharp resonant sound.
Snare drums - Bright, precise with some tad sharp sound.
Tenor drums - Hard and sonorous sounding
Kettledrums - A tad dry and dead sounding.
Pianos - similar sound characteristic with Red Ring Silver Tuning Nozzles' mode.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
Red Ring Brass Tuning Nozzles
Like all SIMGOT that I've tested, their typical signature in-house has something to do with the accentuated upper-mids and presence part of the treble. This type of tuning will somehow give more definition and clarity on vocals, mainly female ones and also well-defined attack of instruments.
Looks like that it has sufficient sparkle with modest airy extension on the brilliance part in the treble region. With its tuning, it also affects the sound qualities of some treble clef instruments like cymbals, hi-hats, celestas and glockenspiels.
Instruments:
Cymbals - Bright and lustrous sounding.
Hi-hats - Shortened buzzing sound as if it sounds very natural in this regard.
Celestas - Mellow and sweet sounding.
Glockenspiels - Bell-like, sounds sort of lustrous.
Among the three of the tuning nozzles that SIMGOT included in EA500LM, this setting is probably the most balanced sounding out there.
Red Ring Silver Tuning Nozzles
It has a tad more elevation on the upper-mids and presence treble which boosted further the clarity and perceived resolution with added sharper attack of rhythmic and percussive instruments. Though with that boost, there will be some instances of shouty and piercing sound on vocals and instruments that might be an issue to treble-sensitives.
The brilliance treble region is notably an improvement as it has more airy extension with more vivacity on its sparkle and has more harmonics on it.
Instruments:
Cymbals - Bright and buzzing sounding.
Hi-hats - Still has a short buzzing sound but its marginal added sizzle.
Celestas - It has a bright and silvery sound.
Glockenspiels - Shimmering and brilliant sounding.
Black Ring Silver Tuning Nozzles
Probably the brightest sounding among its tuning nozzle settings as it has more blazing and crisper sound that it will sound even more shrilly and metallic, and some possible instances of sibilance that might be an issue to treble-sensitive folks out there.
It has a fairly well-extended treble air and is also quite glistening that also affects the timbre and tone of certain instruments.
Instruments:
Cymbals - Bright and shrill sounding.
Hi-hats - Still has a short buzzing sound but its marginal added sizzle.
Celestas - Silvery and silvery sound.
Glockenspiels - glistening yet thin and a tad strident sounding.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
On its overall sound/speaker stage, it has a fairly average to above average sound field dimensions with just decent height reach but excellent depth. This spatial perception projects a moderate head room within my aural sense.
As for its stereo imaging presentation, it gives a rather concave-like projection where I was able to correctly locate the placements of vocal(s) and instruments in an adequately layered soundscape with reasonably good separation as if it was well-spaced for a single dynamic driver IEM.
Coherency of its driver is quite laudable as it has a very fast transient response to transmit a clear sound quality without any distortion. Resolution capability-wise, the EA500LM has a solid macro-dynamics with a capable micro-detail retrieval that it can extract some nuances and subtleties from an audio track.
PEER COMPARISON:
SIMGOT EA500
- The predecessor model of EA500LM as both share the same structural design and detachable nozzle system but internally it uses 10mm DLC diaphragm in dual cavity configuration of its dynamic driver. It has an aluminium alloy shell chassis and also has a heft on it. Aside from similar packaging and inclusions, the difference between the are the stock cables in which this set uses a silver-plated OFC cable with an L-shaped termination plug and its offers a two pairs of detachable tuning nozzles in different tuning curves.
- The EA500 has two sound profiles, the standard Harman target curve and a SIMGOT in-house which is also derivative of a Harman target curve. The standard Harman has a more sub bass-focus, inert mid bass response, a leaner, less-textured midrange as I noticed the male vocals less depth and volume on their note density, and then, a smooth and even treble response. On the other hand, the SIMGOT in-house tuning curve has more textured, more warmth but due to emphasis on upper mids and presence treble, it has a tad brighter sound with some occasional sibilance on it. In this regard, The Red Ring Brass Nozzle of the EA500LM is a refinement of the two.
- As for technical performance, the original EA500 still has a bit wider sound/speaker stage due to more height reach and broader lateral span and its stereo imaging projects a more three-dimensional presentation. The rest of technical aspects are similar with the EA500LM in which the latter has a bit better resolution capability.
The SIMGOT revolution keeps raging on as they always release a product which will yield a high percentage of success for its appeal and overall quality from construction to sonic performance in which SIMGOT always delivers. And this set is a testament of this company's continuous quest of pursuing audio perfection as it has an exceptional build quality, well-tuned sound quality at affordable price.
The big question is, is the EA500LM an improvement over the EA500? Yes and No, Yes is for improvement as SIMGOT continues its tuning refinement with choices of drivers to deliver such a more polished sound quality, and No is because the changes of its tuning between the sets aren't that wide that I will consider it as an upgrade. I can certainly recommend this set to other audio enthusiasts who don't have or didn't try the original EA500 as their path towards SIMGOT Revolution.
SIMGOT EA500LM is still available at LINSOUL. You can simply click the unaffiliated link that I've provided below.
If you are interested in my previous SIMGOT product reviews, check out the following provided links below.
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: SIMGOT EA500LM
IMPEDANCE: 21Ω
SENSITIVITY: 123-124dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 10Hz – 50KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m
PIN TYPE: 0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVERS
PROS:
● Solidly constructed metal alloy chassis
● Smooth, glossy and buffed surface gives an elegant and classy look on its overall aesthetics.
● Its detachable tuning nozzles feature gives this set its tonal versatility.
● It has some good accessories included inside its packaging box.
● As I mentioned its detachable tuning nozzles system, SIMGOT offers three sound profiles with distinctive tuning curves on each other.
● The Red Ring Brass Nozzles have the most balanced sounding out there and also the most natural sounding out there as it has coherent bass response, sufficiently textured midrange presentation, then a smooth and well-polished treble presentation.
● The Red Ring Silver Nozzles have the clarity, more revealing and airy treble presentation.
● The Black Ring Silver Nozzles gives even more details and resolution on EA500LM with some caveats.
● It has a competent technical performance for a single DD set
● By any means, its asking price on this set is justifiable given its tonal performance.
CONS:
● Both Red Ring and Black Ring Tuning Nozzles’ tunings might be bothersome to some treble sensitive folk due to its metallic and shrill sound.
● The metal surface of its shell chassis is susceptible to nicks and scratches.
● Given that I considered its stock cable as a decent one but I expect more from a refined version, probably a tad thicker and resistant from entanglement.
● SIMGOT, please add more choices of ear tips.
TRACKS TESTED: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)
Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *
P.S.
I am not affiliated to SIMGOT nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.
Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to MS. KAREENA TANG of LINSOUL for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate her generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
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